Came back from the US via NRT yesterday. About 2-2.5 hours from plane to curb. 20 minutes waiting on the plane for transfer pax to deplane. As a UA GS I was the first off the plane for those going into Japan. One hour for test results, and then another 30 minutes between quarantine paperwork for checkout, dogs sniffing my crotch and customs (for the first time, they decided to x-ray my bags — 1 of 200 entries into Japan).

Quarantine filled up after I arrived. Staff said 1-3 hours wait is normal these days. US flights this week were actually 50-75% full due to the holiday. Highly inefficient testing and quarantine process in that I interacted with at least 12 staff and there was as much time processing and checking physical paperwork as waiting for test results. Many frustrated people waiting in lines. Still, 2 hours for me in total wasn’t so bad all things considered. Wish UA flew SFO to HND like before though. Had a team member come in the same day there with a much shorter process, and obviously closer to central Tokyo afterwards.

Also learned from her that there are plenty of taxis at Haneda international terminal and no apparent restrictions on using them after international arrivals. Stark contrast to Narita and a bit disconcerting but I suppose since quarantine is over now for residents and Japanese alike, the “no public transport” rule is really useless since one can go anywhere such as restaurants immediately after returning to Japan, quarantine free.

Immigration for returning residents is now a 3 minute affair with no lines, far better than my re-entries earlier during the pandemic with secondary screening rooms.

NH F lounge continues to be a zoo given its the only lounge open and all J and F pax on *A have access. Completely full and a possible corona festival unfortunately.

US is completely screwed up right now. California is on purple tier in many counties - the highest - with 10pm curfews in place albeit not so enforced, but still, it’s very quiet. Ironic that the numbers keep going up. Not sure what Japan is doing right, but it’s working, despite the “all time high” numbers in Tokyo this week. Still tiny compared to America, even compared to one COUNTY in California.

Thankful to be in Japan during the pandemic. Suppose that’s a good thing to consider this week given the holiday.